You see them in the airport, at the local coffee shop, the mall, and even at your child’s school: dogs. But not just any type of dog, an autism service dog. The concept is certainly not new. Dogs have been helping people for over 15,000 years. Since their beginning, they’ve had various jobs, from protecting livestock and helping their masters hunt to ridding our homes of rats and mice and finally assisting those with disabilities, such as blind or deaf people, to get around.
Not all disabilities are visible to the naked eye, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Kids on the spectrum often face challenges such as being non-verbal, displaying aggressive behavior, and struggling with social interactions. These difficulties may not be as apparent as a physical disability, but they can be equally complex and impactful, requiring understanding and tailored support.
We’ve seen the positive effect that an autism service dog can have on its owner and family. Though Heartlinks’ focus is ABA therapy, we encourage our families to seek support in whatever way they need, including using dogs.
So, if you’re interested in learning more about how therapy dogs for autism could help your child, read on!
What Is an Autism Service Dog?
You might think you know what a service dog is, but for our purposes, it bears repeating. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is a dog exclusively trained to work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The ADA was passed in 1990, and service dogs were legally recognized in this country. The first autism service dog, Shade, was placed with a child in 1997.
How Can Autism Service Dogs Help Children?
Autism assistance dogs are professionally trained to perform specific tasks to help their owners live independently and navigate the world. People with ASD are characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication skills, as well as challenging behaviors. These dogs can help children, teens, and adults on the spectrum in several ways.
1. Encouraging Positive Behaviors
Like an ABA therapist, therapy dogs can model desirable behaviors when working with an autistic child. Thanks to their calm demeanor and trained responses, autism therapy dogs can demonstrate positive adaptive behaviors for the child to their young owners. The animal can also provide positive reinforcement to encourage the desired behaviors, like following instructions or completing tasks.
2. Improving Daily Living Skills
An autism therapy dog can help an autistic child develop the necessary daily living skills inspired by shaping in ABA therapy. For example, the dog might assist the child in taking the steps needed toward brushing their teeth by retrieving the toothbrush calmly, waiting as the child holds it, and rewarding progress with encouragement.
Similarly, an autism therapy dog can help the child get dressed by handing over clothing items and nudging the child through each step. This step-by-step reinforcement helps the child learn complex skills in manageable increments.
3. Emotional Support
Therapy dogs for children with autism can quickly become companions and provide emotional support. The dog can accompany your child to school and sit at his feet throughout the day.
Suppose your son struggles with emotional regulation or engages in sensory-seeking activities like hand-flapping. In that case, their service dog can apply his weight by leaning on or lying against the child to help reduce the physiological symptoms of their anxiety or stress. The dog can also offer sensory stimulation, including a nose nudge or paw touch to help your child focus or self-soothe during stressful moments.
4. Curb Undesirable Behaviors
A therapy dog can lovingly interrupt harmful or repetitive behaviors, including spinning or scratching, by nudging, pawing, or resting its head on the child. If properly trained, your child’s four-legged friend can detect signs of escalating stress or anxiety and respond accordingly before a tantrum or meltdown occurs.
5. Provide a Sense of Safety
By accompanying your child regularly, their therapy dog can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. An autism therapy dog can provide security during outings, allowing the child to feel more comfortable in overwhelming or crowded settings.
It’s also not uncommon for autistic children to wander. They might get up in the middle of the night and try to leave your home. Or hear a fire alarm, see flashing lights or a commotion, and flee an area without alerting anyone.
For children experiencing autistic regression, where previously learned skills or abilities are lost, the presence of a therapy dog can be tremendously grounding and emotionally stabilizing. In in-home ABA therapy, therapists can work alongside the therapy dog to teach critical safety and behavior skills. Using the ABA therapy of anchoring, the child wears a belt attached to the dog’s harness. The child also holds the harness and learns to walk with the dog. Meanwhile, a caregiver or therapist has a second leash attached to the dog’s collar. This allows the third party to command the therapy dog to stay should the child become distracted or run away, significantly increasing the child’s safety and making it easier for the caregiver.
6. Social Engagement
Children on the spectrum have varying degrees of trouble developing social skills. A therapy dog for autism is a terrific conversation starter and can encourage positive interactions with adults and peers. Using prompt hierarchy, the dog can guide the child through social interactions, starting with physical or verbal cues and gradually fading to allow independent responses. Simple tricks, such as bowing or waving, can provoke laughter and smiles from your child’s peers and help develop a connection, all while reinforcing social engagement skills.
Additionally, engaging with their autism service dog is a fantastic way for your child to practice communication, turn-taking, and other social skills with a willing participant!
7. Creating Routine and Stability
Children on the spectrum often have tremendous difficulty with change and a shift in their routine. At Heartlinks, one of the first things we encourage our new families to do is establish a structured routine for their children. They’re less likely to feel anxious and irritable when that is in place.
An autistic service dog’s constant presence and predictable responses can serve as a discriminative stimulus in the child’s environment, signaling safety, structure, and routine. This consistent cue helps the child feel more grounded and less likely to experience distress from unexpected changes, creating a comforting and supportive environment.
8. Build Emotional Resilience
Unconditional love is the most comforting thing for any human and an autistic therapy dog can provide it in spades. This love and affection can support your child when they experience setbacks, frustration, or even autistic burnout-a state of overwhelming exhaustion that can affect individuals across the spectrum, including those with high-functioning and low-functioning autism. Caring for and interacting with a dog can help an autistic child understand their own emotions and develop empathy over time.
Is Your Child Eligible for an Autism Service Dog?
Though many organizations supply autism service dogs in the United States, parents must remember that such a specialized animal costs around $20,000, and the demand far outweighs the supply.
Each organization has different eligibility criteria. Most don’t exclude a child’s application based on the severity of their disability. However, they do have some of the following criteria:
- Only provide dogs to children between 4 and 12.
- The child must be actively participating in ABA therapy or other intervention services or therapies.
- There has to be an appointed service dog handler in the family who will be known as the Third-Party Handler.
- This adult must be able to complete independent team training, which will include extended hands-on training.
- Have the ability to provide a safe, healthy, and loving home for the autistic therapy dog.
- Have the ability to provide for the dog’s psychological, physical, and financial needs.
Let Heartlinks Help You Navigate Autism
There is still much mystery surrounding autism. We don’t know its exact causes, and children still get misdiagnosed. However, one thing we know for sure is that autism service dogs provide tremendous value to their young owners and their families. These four-legged friends are valuable in terms of safety, emotional support, and encouraging desirable behaviors.
If you’re interested in applying for an autism therapy dog, contact Heartlinks. Though we don’t supply them, we know the organizations who do! We also offer various ABA services and serve locations in New Jersey, Georgia, Indiana, and North Carolina. Before you invest in a leash and dog bone, talk with us, and let us help you.